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Although originally known as the guy who, upon Kara Dioguardi’s request, stripped off his shirt during his American Idol audition, Casey James quickly became one of the show’s leading contestants, celebrated for both his guitar skills and bluesy vocals. Born in Cool, TX, James spent his adolescence and early adulthood in nearby Fort Worth, where he became a regular at local venues like the Keys Lounge. In 2008, he launched the Casey James Band with his brother, Billy, and family friend Jacy McCann, but the band took a hiatus one year later, when James auditioned for the ninth season of American Idol. James sailed through the show’s preliminary round and gained admittance into the Top 24, which began competing in early 2010. Accompanying himself on the guitar during all but one performance, he received high marks for renditions of Bryan Adams’ “Heaven,” Huey Lewis’ “The Power of Love,” and John Lennon's "Jealous Guy." James eventually finished third, trailing behind fellow guitar-totin...